The Westchester County Office for Women held its annual Police Interactive Training Conference, a keystone event during October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The theme of the conference was “Saving Lives … a Growing Westchester Partnership” and the objective was to provide police officers who respond to domestic violence incidents with best practices for safe outcomes for victims. Over 300 individuals were in attendance from the Westchester County Department of Probation, community partner agencies, service providers and representatives from 34 police departments County-wide.
The comprehensive program featured a keynote entitled “Leading with Courage and Compassion: The Guardian-Warrior Path in Policing.” It detailed the retired NYS Police Senior Investigator Matthew Stegner’s journey to prioritizing domestic violence cases, and emphasized the need for officers to embody and balance the “warrior” and the “guardian” when interacting with victims. The audience heard updates from the County’s Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT) on current cases, the first time testimonial of a survivor, a review of how to implement existing and amended NYS laws and a report from the County’s Gun Violence Task Force detailing the intersection of gun safety and domestic violence.
In addition, several awards were presented: a survivor and volunteer advocate received the Blue Bird Survivor Leadership award, ADA Joyce Miller received the James Cannon award for excellence in the field and Office for Women Director Robi Schlaff received the DVHRT Leadership Award.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “The Police Interactive Training Conference is where you see first-hand the incredible results of bringing together the right stakeholders to assist domestic violence survivors. Building bridges between law enforcement and community providers is essential to making inroads into this dangerous issue. This is why other counties and communities are reaching out to replicate our outstanding model. Westchester County stands committed to investing in domestic violence prevention efforts.”
Westchester County Department of Probation Commissioner Rocco Pozzi said: “Domestic violence impacts individuals across all ages, genders, and backgrounds, leaving lasting effects on families and communities. The 23rd Annual Police Interactive Training Conference serves as a powerful platform to showcase Westchester County’s unified and coordinated response to domestic violence. This annual event underscores the County’s unwavering commitment to prevention, survivor protection, and offender accountability—highlighting the strength of cross-agency collaboration in creating safer communities for all.”
Westchester County Office for Women Director Robi Schlaff said: “Westchester County continues to be the model for DV response. The training, the presentations by the keynote and other speakers and the survivors who had the courage to share their stories inspired those who attended the training and strengthens the collaborations that exist through all participating disciplines.”
Westchester County DVHRT Director David M. Ryan said: “This 23rd Annual Police Interactive Conference demonstrates the commitment by the leadership in Westchester County to support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and intimate partner violence. By providing an umbrella of resources from all disciplines working in a coordinated and collaborative response, we are able to support victims, allow them to feel safe and begin healing while also holding offenders accountable.”
Yonkers Police Department Domestic Violence Lieutenant Robert Spink said: “Attending the 23rd Annual Police Conference is an essential step in ensuring our teams are equipped with the most current, trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches. While discussions around law updates and case reviews are crucial, hearing a survivor’s story powerfully underscores the real-world impact of our work. This conference is a powerful reminder that our dedication to continuous learning is the foundation of effective public safety.”
To view the full presentation and resources, visit women.westchestergov.com/police-training/police-2025
